Vessel with a Hull

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a watercraft ( 1 ) having a hull ( 2 ) and at least one arm ( 3 ) protruding from the hull ( 2 ), on which at least two hydrofoils ( 4, 5 ) are mounted so they are each pivotable about a first pivot axis ( 6 ), preferably about a shared pivot axis. To improve the maneuverability and stability of the watercraft, the at least two hydrofoils ( 4, 5 ) are pivotable independently of one another.

The invention relates to a watercraft having a hull and at least one armprotruding from the hull, on which at least two hydrofoils are mountedso they are each pivotable about a first pivot axis, preferably about ashared pivot axis.

Watercraft are known from WO 2011/157660 A1 and WO 2011/157658 A1, inwhich hydrofoils are vertically adjustable by pivot arms.

DE 10 2008 008 474 A1 discloses a hydrofoil boat having verticalsword-shaped struts under the boat body, which have hydrofoils arrangedin pairs. The hydrofoils are pivotable about a transverse axis and alongitudinal axis. As a result of the overall construction, inparticular as a result of the struts fastened rigidly on the hull, thetravel properties cannot be fundamentally changed, above all with regardto different velocities.

GB 1 120 612 A discloses a hydrofoil boat having a vertically adjustablearm, which has adjustable hydrofoils on its lower side.

Flexibly usable watercraft, which permit a plurality of configurations,are known from AT 509 946 A and AT 509 948 A of the applicant of thepresent application.

The goal of the present invention is to provide a watercraft havingimproved maneuverability and stability. The adaptation of the watercraftto different conditions, such as velocities, current conditions, and thelike, is to be implemented with the simplest possible means and in asimple manner.

This goal is achieved with the watercraft mentioned at the outset inthat the at least two hydrofoils are pivotable independently of oneanother. The functionality of the watercraft can be expanded in a simplemanner by this measure. Asynchronous pivoting of the hydrofoils not onlyoptimizes the cornering, but rather also travel in difficult currentconditions. By way of such optimized adaptation, not only can thestability of the watercraft be increased by active regulation, butrather the fuel consumption can also be reduced.

The hull, on which the arm(s) having the pivotable hydrofoils accordingto the invention protrude, can be a main hull or a secondary hull of thewatercraft, in particular of a catamaran.

In one preferred embodiment, it is provided that the at least twohydrofoils, which are pivotable independently of one another, arearranged at the same height on opposite sides of the arm. Theasynchronous adjustability of two hydrofoils arranged at the same heightenables a different setting of the buoyancy and the water resistance onboth sides of the arm, whereby advantages can be achieved in particularin cornering or in the event of rapidly changing current conditions.

The watercraft can be in particular a sport and/or racing boat or aspecial vehicle.

In one preferred embodiment, it is provided that the hydrofoils arearranged in the end region of the arm, which faces away from the hull. Amaximum vertical adjustment of the hydrofoils is possible by way of thismeasure in the case of an adjustable, for example, pivotable arm. It canalso be preferable if the hydrofoils in the end region of the arm arethe only (hydrofoils) which are arranged on the arm. In this case, theremaining arm is free of (further) hydrofoils.

In one preferred embodiment, it is provided that the first pivot axis ofthe hydrofoils is transverse, preferably perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the hydrofoil and/or to the travel direction of thewatercraft. The buoyancy and the flow resistance are thus intentionallyadjustable. Pivoting of the arm in relation to the hull can becompensated for by pivoting of the hydrofoils in relation to the armsuch that the orientation of the hydrofoils in relation to the hull ismaintained, or at least is not executed to the same extent.

In one preferred embodiment, it is provided that the hydrofoils are eachpivotable about the first pivot axis by at least 60°, preferably by atleast 90°. In the case of an arm pivotable in relation to the hull, thecompensation of the hydrofoil orientation can thus be performed in abroad angle range.

In one preferred embodiment, it is provided that the arm is mounted soit is pivotable on the hull, wherein the arm is preferably pivotable inrelation to the hull by at least 60°, preferably by at least 90°. Thisembodiment is advantageous in particular in conjunction with theabove-described embodiments, because the pivoting of the arm can beadapted with the pivoting of the hydrofoil in relation to the arm. Thehydrofoils are vertically adjustable in relation to the hull by thepivoting of the arm.

In one preferred embodiment, it is provided that the pivot axis of thearm is transverse to the travel direction of the watercraft and/oressentially parallel to the first pivot axis of the hydrofoil.

In one preferred embodiment, it is provided that drives actuableindependently of one another, preferably cylinder drives, are integratedinto the at least one arm, wherein one of the drives interacts with oneof the hydrofoils and another drive interacts with another hydrofoil.The integration of the drives into the arm is advantageous, as is theindependent activation of the hydrofoils.

In one preferred embodiment, it is provided that a hydrofoil bearing isintegrated into the arm and the drives are housed in the region of thehydrofoil bearing. The drives can thus be embodied as compact andspace-saving.

In one preferred embodiment, it is provided that the drives are cylinderdrives, the piston rods of which are essentially parallel to one anotherand point in opposite directions, whereby the tight space conditions inthe arm can be utilized in the best possible fashion.

In one preferred embodiment, it is provided that the cylinder drives aresituated opposite to one another and/or on opposing sides of thehydrofoil bearing, whereby a compact construction having more or lessdirect attachment of the drives to the hydrofoils results.

In one preferred embodiment, it is provided that the piston rods of thecylinder drives are each eccentrically linked on a rotationalattachment, which is mounted in the hydrofoil bearing and is connectedto the respective hydrofoil, whereby a reliable force transmissionresults.

In one preferred embodiment, it is provided that the piston rod of acylinder drive is connected through a recess, which is preferably in theform of a partial ring, of a rotational attachment to the otherrotational attachment. This measure also contributes to the compactnessof the drive.

In one preferred embodiment, it is provided that the hydrofoils arepivotable in relation to the arm about a second pivot axis in additionto the first pivot axis, wherein preferably the second pivot axisextends essentially in parallel to the longitudinal axis of thehydrofoil and/or essentially horizontally. This expands the maneuveringand stabilization possibilities.

In one preferred embodiment, it is provided that the watercraft has atleast two arms, the linkage points of which on the hull are spaced apartfrom one another in the travel direction, and/or the watercraft has atleast two arms, the linkage points of which on the hull are spaced apartfrom one another and transversely to the travel direction.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in greater detailhereafter on the basis of the drawing. In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows a watercraft having pivoted-out arms;

FIG. 2 shows the watercraft from FIG. 1 having pivoted-in arms;

FIG. 3 shows the drive mechanism of the hydrofoils in detail;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of the end region of the armhaving hydrofoils pivoted to different extents;

FIG. 5 shows the end region of the arm having an additional pivot axisof the hydrofoils.

FIG. 1 shows a watercraft 1 having a hull 2 and arms 3 protruding fromthe hull 2, on each of which two hydrofoils 4, 5 are mounted so they areeach pivotable about a first pivot axis 6 (FIG. 5). The hydrofoil 5 isnot visible in FIG. 1, since it is located on the opposite side of thearm 3; however, the hydrofoil 5 is indicated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the hydrofoils are pivotable about a sharedpivot axis 6 (see also FIG. 5).

The arms 3 are each mounted so they are pivotable on the hull 2, wherebythe hydrofoils 4, 5 are vertically adjustable. FIG. 1 shows the arms 3in the pivoted-out position and FIG. 2 in the pivoted-in position. To beable to adjust the height of the hydrofoils to the greatest possibleextent, the arms 3 are pivotable in relation to the hull 2 by at least60°, preferably by at least 90°. The pivot axis 8 of the arm 3 istransverse to the travel direction 7 of the watercraft 1 and/oressentially parallel to the first pivot axis 6 of the hydrofoils 4, 5.

The first pivot axis 6 of the hydrofoils 4, 5 is transverse, inparticular perpendicular, to the longitudinal axis of the hydrofoil 4, 5and/or to the travel direction 7 of the watercraft 1.

The two hydrofoils 4, 5, which are pivotable independently of oneanother, are arranged at the same height on opposing sides of the arm 3.The hydrofoils 4, 5 are arranged in the end region of the arm 3, whichfaces away from the hull 2.

Similarly to the arms 3 in relation to the hull 2 (pivot axis 8), thehydrofoils 4, 5 are also each pivotable about the first pivot axis 6 byat least 60°, preferably by at least 90°. Pivoting of the arm 3 can thusbe compensated for by pivoting of the hydrofoils 4, 5 in relation to thearm 3, so that the orientation of the hydrofoils 4, 5 in relation to thehull 2 can be maintained essentially unchanged.

It is now provided according to the invention that the at least twohydrofoils 4, 5 of an arm 3 are pivotable independently of one another.This situation is shown in FIG. 4, in which the hydrofoils 4, 5 arelocated in different angular positions. The front hydrofoil 5 in FIG. 4and the drive 10 thereof are shown using solid lines, the hydrofoil 4arranged on the opposite side of the arm 3 and the drive 9 thereof areshown using dashed lines.

It can also be seen in FIG. 3 that drives 9, 10 (here: cylinder drives),which are actuable independently of one another, are integrated into thearm 3, wherein one of the drives 9 interacts with one of the hydrofoils4 and another drive 10 interacts with another hydrofoil 5.

A hydrofoil bearing 11 is also integrated into the arm 3 and the drives9, 10 are housed in the (immediate) region of the hydrofoil bearing 11.

In the embodiment shown, the drives 9, 10 are cylinder drives, thepiston rods of which are essentially parallel to one another and pointin opposite directions, i.e., the cylinder drives are oriented pivotedby approximately 180° in relation to one another. The drives 9, 10 areopposite to one another and are situated on opposing sides of thehydrofoil bearing 11.

The piston rods of the cylinder drives 9, 10 are each eccentricallylinked to a rotational attachment 12, 13, which is mounted in thehydrofoil bearing 11 and is connected to the respective hydrofoil 4, 5.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the piston rod of a cylinderdrive 10 is connected through a recess, which is preferably in the formof a partial ring, of a rotational attachment 12 to the other rotationalattachment 13. The drive mechanisms of the individual hydrofoilstherefore penetrate one another, whereby the space requirement can bekept low.

It is indicated in FIG. 5 that the hydrofoils 4, 5 are pivotable inrelation to the arm 3 about a second pivot axis 14 in addition to thefirst pivot axis 6, wherein the second pivot axis 14 extends essentiallyin parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hydrofoils 4, 5 and/oressentially horizontally.

Additionally thereto, the arm 3 is pivotable about a third axis 3 a,which represents its longitudinal axis, to also implement a rudderfunction.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show that the watercraft 1 has at least two arms 3,the linkage points of which on the hull 2 are spaced apart from oneanother in the travel direction 7. In addition, the watercraft 1 canhave at least two arms 3, the linkage points of which on the hull 2 arespaced apart from one another transversely to the travel direction 7.

1. A watercraft having a hull and at least one arm protruding from thehull, on which at least two hydrofoils are each mounted so they arepivotable about a first pivot axis, preferably about a shared pivotaxis, wherein at least two hydrofoils are pivotable independently of oneanother.
 2. The watercraft according to claim 1, wherein at least twohydrofoils, which are pivotable independently of one another, arearranged at the same height on opposing sides of the arm.
 3. Thewatercraft according to claim 1, wherein the hydrofoils are arranged inthe end region of the arm, which faces away from the hull.
 4. Thewatercraft according to claim 3, wherein the first pivot axis of thehydrofoils is transverse, preferably perpendicular, to the longitudinalaxis of the hydrofoil and/or to the travel direction of the watercraft.5. The watercraft according to claim 4, wherein the hydrofoils are eachpivotable by at least 60°, preferably by at least 90° about the firstpivot axis.
 6. The watercraft according to claim 5, wherein the arm ismounted so it is pivotable on the hull, wherein the arm is preferablypivotable hi relation to the hull by at least 60°, preferably by atleast 90°.
 7. The watercraft according to claim 6, characterized in thatthe pivot axis of the arm is transverse to the travel direction of thewatercraft and/or essentially parallel to the first pivot axis of thehydrofoils.
 8. The watercraft according to claim 7, wherein drives,which are actuable independently of one another, preferably cylinderdrives, are integrated into the at least one arm, wherein one of thedrives interacts with one of the hydrofoils and another drive interactswith another hydrofoil.
 9. The watercraft according to claim 8, whereina hydrofoil bearing is integrated into the arm and the drives are housedin the region of the hydrofoil bearing.
 10. The watercraft according toclaim 9, wherein the drives are cylinder drives, the piston rods ofwhich are essentially parallel to one another and point in oppositedirections.
 11. The watercraft according to claim 10, wherein the drivesare opposite to one another and/or are arranged on opposing sides of thehydrofoil bearing.
 12. The watercraft according to claim 11, wherein thepiston rods of the cylinder drives are each eccentrically linked on arotational attachment, which is mounted in the hydrofoil bearing and isconnected to the respective hydrofoil.
 13. The watercraft according toclaim 12, wherein the piston rod of one cylinder drive is connectedthrough a recess, which is preferably in the form of a partial ring, ofa rotational attachment to the other rotational attachment.
 14. Thewatercraft according to claim 13, wherein the hydrofoils are pivotableabout a second pivot axis in addition to the first pivot axis inrelation to the arm, wherein preferably the second pivot axis extendsessentially in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hydrofoil and/oressentially horizontally.
 15. The watercraft according to claim 14,wherein the watercraft has at least two arms, the linkage points ofwhich on the hull are spaced apart from one another in the traveldirection, and/or the watercraft has at least two arms, the linkagepoints of which on the hull are spaced apart from one anothertransversely to the travel direction.
 16. The watercraft according toclaim 15, wherein a third pivot axis is provided, which is preferablyperpendicular to the first pivot axis.